Battleground Europe (WWIIOL) worth it?

[Dowly]

A simple question; is it worth the monthly fee?

I've been following it's progress from pretty much the beginning, but never got around to subscribe, I'm looking to make a change to that. :hmm:

[Captain Vlad]

My experience with the game is very outdated, but I have played, and I'll happily offer my opinion.

When I was subscribed the game was very very strong in some points and very weak in others. On the good side, the vehicle and weapon modelling was exceptionally detailed and accurate (with some minor quibbles) and the variety of 'rarely seen in a game' units is awesome. On the bad, it could sometimes take quite a while to find bad guys to shoot at, and the learning curve was horrendous.

The best thing about it was that it really is a virtual battlefield. You're not gonna run into the edge of the zone, or find that you never get to shoot your tank's main gun at a target farther than 30 meters away. I've had gun duels with hostiles who were over a kilometer a way from me and drove my painfully slow Matilda for miles to return to base after the place I was defending was overrun.

I know they've added a lot since I played, aiming to get people into action quicker, and to put both sides in close proximity of each other. I don't know how well it's worked. I'd love to try it again, but my current connection won't allow it.

Final answer? Well, I probably have more singular 'never forget' moments from WWIIOnline than any other massively multiplayer game, so I have to recommend trying the free month, at least. On the other hand, I'm not sure whether it's appeal would stand up if their were other games like it.

If you wanna hear some war stories, btw....lemme know. I got plenty.

[Dowly]

Thanks Vlad. Doesnt come as an surprise that I'm gonna aim to the role of an fighter pilot. I've seen tons of vids of the huge airbattles and bomber formations, how common it is to see a big airbattle in WWIIOL? And overall, how is the player situation? Am I to except hundreds of players? Like you said, it is a real virtual battlefield and that's what fascinates me. I want to fly low in my 109, make a pass over convoy of friendly forces going towards the front and wave my wings to let them know we flyboys are there to support them.

Oh and yes, warstories are always welcome.

[Captain Vlad]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Doesnt come as an surprise that I'm gonna aim to the role of an fighter pilot. I've seen tons of vids of the huge airbattles and bomber formations, how common it is to see a big airbattle in WWIIOL?

The air action was what I was originally interested in, but my computer at the time wouldn't handle aerial warfare on that game too well. Ironically, now that it will, I can't play due to net stuff.

There were plenty of 'squadrons' at the time, and on their squad nights, you could see some pretty impressive aerial action. For a long time, it was strictly tac air, as there were no strategic targets to hit, but that changed when they introduced R&D and the factories it requires. A group outing to bomb an enemy factory into pebbles and charcoal was a fairly common thing after that, and naturally the other side wouldn't just let that happen. Bridges are destrucible now, too.

One thing I don't know if they've changed: When I was playing, there was no 'loadout' screen...for anything. You couldn't trade a couple grenades for more ammo...and you couldn't not carry the bombs that 'come standard' with a particular aircraft. Kind of a hassle to have to jettison your ordnance every time you take, say, a P-39 up, and also irritating that you a Bleinheim couldn't lug around something besides the 25-lb eggs that made up a good chunk of their loadout.

This was why the Allied flyboys got so happy when the P-39 was introduced (USA isn't in the game, btw, but they introduced US equipment as 'lend-lease' stuff for France since they had no post-41 stuff). A lot of the Allied planes had very small bombs, but the Bell had a nice, fat 500 or 1000 lber.

And overall, how is the player situation? Am I to except hundreds of players? Like you said, it is a real virtual battlefield and that's what fascinates me.

Right now, I don't know. Been too long since I played. Prime time, back in the day, you'd see all sorts of people. 4am, not so much, though there's always someone on, naturally.

I want to fly low in my 109, make a pass over convoy of friendly forces going towards the front and wave my wings to let them know we flyboys are there to support them.

I've had wings waggled at me for just that reason. I've also told a flyboy that couldn't see his target where a good place to drop his bombload would be. I've had German fighters chased away from my gunboat by the 'just in the nick of time' arrival of two French Hawk 75's. Etc.

Oh and yes, warstories are always welcome.

Excpect a PM.

[Overkill]

I was very disapointed in WWIIOL.

Red Orchestra only involves ground combat (infantry and armor) but it's much better and does not cost a monthly fee to play online. You can download it from Steam for around $20.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Overkill

I was very disapointed in WWIIOL.

Red Orchestra only involves ground combat (infantry and armor) but it's much better and does not cost a monthly fee to play online. You can download it from Steam for around $20.

I have RO and didnt like it that much.

[Overkill]

Operation Flashpoint has several WWII mods made for it. I haven't tried any of them myself but they're definately worth take'n a look at.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Overkill

Operation Flashpoint has several WWII mods made for it. I haven't tried any of them myself but they're definately worth take'n a look at.

Tried that too.

[Overkill]

Well Call of Duty World at War will be out soon. Looks like use'n the flamethrower will be fun.

[stabiz]

Originally Posted by Dowly

I have RO and didnt like it that much.

Its fun, but it takes a bit to get into, I played it for awhile, kinda fell out of it though and cancled my sub.

I remember one time, I was on this paradrop mission and we had some sort of issue, maybe we got shot down, so we landed, everybody was ok... So we just walked to the target! :rotfl:

[Dowly]

Having now played it for 4-6 sorties in a BF110, I must say it farcking rocks! The flightmodel is of course more arcadish than that you see on pure flightsims, but it isnt hard to get the planes to spin/stall. The amount of players is one thing that amazes me, I dont even notice the average graphics, the fighting is too intense to start looking at anything else than the enemy. Other thing I like very much is the constantly updating 'News paper' on the front page telling you pretty much anything you'd think should be told. Hero stories (real events, that the game automatically notes and puts to the paper), general situation reports, production reports etc. etc.

I'm sold, that's all I can say.

[Captain Vlad]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Having now played it for 4-6 sorties in a BF110, I must say it farcking rocks!

I hate BF110's. They're always flitting around, looking for a nice, fat patrol boat to shoot up, and their 20mms are very effective against a wooden motor launch so you might as well write off your naval career if one gets a good run on you.

On the other hand, most of my Fairmille B kills were BF 110s. One of them I got with the 2lber gun on the front. You know, the one you're supposed to shoot other boats with.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Captain Vlad

I hate BF110's. They're always flitting around, looking for a nice, fat patrol boat to shoot up, and their 20mms are very effective against a wooden motor launch so you might as well write off your naval career if one gets a good run on you.

On the other hand, most of my Fairmille B kills were BF 110s. One of them I got with the 2lber gun on the front. You know, the one you're supposed to shoot other boats with.

I hate the me110 in WWIIOL too. Unfair, the germans have the 110 as their starting fighter for low ranking players, the RAF has 2 Hurricanes! Needless to say, I jumped sides and am now flying for the RAF until the 3rd promotion when I get my hands on to the 109.

Oh, had my first paratrooper mission today. Damn, that was cool! Was night, tracers flying past our C47 and them twut germans shooting at us with everything they had as we were floating slooowly down after the jump. Great game!

[Captain Vlad]

Suggestion on ranking up in the 110 is to...well, look for boats to kill. They're extremely vulnerable to 20mm fire if you know where to aim. Now that crewmembers on boats don't die (something I wish I was able to enjoy), your best bet is to aim for the center of the boat, just under the stack. If you set the engine ablaze, the boat will sink eventually....no damage control, alas.

Also, early war, the 110 makes a passable tank buster. Won't do jack to a Matilda or a Char B1, but A13s, and any of the light tanks, the 20's can easily punch through top armor.

Might wanna try the French Air Force, too. A lot of people hate the Hawk 75, but I found it pleasant to fly in offline mode (all my computer at the time could handle).